 Summary: I'd never heard of Canyon de Chelly until a couple I met in the Grand Canyon recommended it to me. They said the cottonwood leaves were at their peak of color and it was something I had to see.
After that I turned on RV Today and saw their program on Monument Valley and the Canyon. Taking this as a sign, I knew I had to go see it (not that it takes much to get me going).
It was well worth the effort. I had been getting tired of red rock, but the immensity can't be seen outside the king itself.
There are two roads that split at the visitors center, one for each side of the canyon. Since it was getting later and I only had time for one, the ranger recommended the southern rim and for best light I start at the end and work my way back.
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Features:
Hiking, camping, native American ruins. There are guided jeep tours into the canyon, where the Indians live in the summer. Or if you have a four wheel drive you can hire an Indian guide to take you down into the canyon. The overlooks are open to everyone, but you can't go alone into the canyon except for the trail to the White House Ruins.
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 Activities:
Auto tours, hiking, rock art viewing, interpretive exhibits and talks, horseback riding (by prior arrangement), picnicking and photography. Concession jeep tours are available from Thunderbird Lodge |
Area Attractions:
Petrified Forest to the southwest, Monument Valley to the North. Also mentioned on the map, but places I haven't been to:
Hubbell Trading Post Historic Site
Ganado Mission
Second Mesa on the Hopi Reservation
White Mesa Natural Bridge
Keet Seel Ruin
Betatakin Ruin
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Food & Sundries:
Chinle has restaurants, markets, and motels. I didn't see anything in the park.
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 Directions:
The Visitor Center is 3 miles (4.8 km) from Route 191 in Chinle, AZ. You can catch Route 191 at exit 333 Interstate 40, just east of the Petrified Forest. |
Local Towns:
Chinle
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Local Accommodations:
Chinle, Thunderbird Lodge in the park.
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Camping & RV:
There's a nice RV park in the canyon just down from the entrance. It's in the middle of a cottonwood grove, which might be a problem for people with allergies, but they're beautiful in the Fall. The best part, it's free. I didn't see any hook-ups, including water, but there is a dump station.
There's also
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Notes:
There are signs all over the place warning about auto break-ins. Since each parking area has an Indian selling wares, usually with a cell phone, I'd think it would be an easily solved problem.
Rocks with Indian symbols carved into them seem to be the most available item for sale. The artists are really good, doing the carving with a bent piece of wire. Depending on where you're at, the carvings may or may not be painted for a more decorative look. |
